Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-16
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA.
Turn-Haile Exists No More
some Account Of It's Creation
And the Good ft Has Done.

commenced, aid as each piece is re-
moved. away will go the historical
reminders of many events of the
past sixteen years. Ii those tim
bers could but rouse to life, and In
one grand chorus repeat the songs they We
heard, the scenes they've Witnessed, or tell
the l5ve.looka they have seen, it would
be revelation like the stars when they
chorused together; but walls tell no tales.
| ITS DEGISNING.
In 1870 Los Angeles bad boom, but
as that word was not created then, it
was recognized by souething equally
| applicable. Ia that year the foundations $
OF Temple block, Downey block, I. w.
Hellman's former bank near the old
B lla Union, and the Merced theatre
were laid, and theleadipg gGerman-Amer.
| leans of the city took preliminary meas
ures for the building of Turn-Halle.
But it was not until the spring of 1871
that it was fully erected.
Previous to that, their public social
| meetings centered around the Los Ange.
les Turn-Yerein, the Concerdia Turn
Verein Association, the Senior Turn
Verein Society and the Gesang Verein
Teutonia Musical Society.
Harmonious rivalry existed among
these organizations, and If there was any,
thing further, il WAS oblterated when
at ten minutes of 2o'clock P. NJ. on the
18th of July OF that year, the Legislatif
of France declared war against Prussia.
Then all became common and interested
unity.
But Just previous to his date the first
impulse germinated into an action which
further along brought Turn Halle into
existence. On the evening OF June Ia,
1870, number of German citizens met
for the purpose of effeoting an organiza-
tion to provide for calisthenic exercises
and tho recreation of all those who
desired it. At that meeeting an organi. |
cation was effected, and the following |
named officers were elected G. G. |
Lipps, Presidents; l.. Lichtenberger,
Vice. President; c. +. Heinzeman,
Treasurer; |. Cohn, Secretary; and II.
Schalberg. Property Man. Prof. F.
Morsch and Emil Harris were appointed
Instructors. A committees was also ap.
pointed to secure suitable place for the |
erection OF q hall and gymnasium.
Previous to this small society of
Turner'S existed here, having their fix
lures in apartments a Weebeekers
Garden, near the old r.lilroad depot,
where they met on Tuesdays and Sat.
urdays for exercise. to converse or sing,
or to renew remembrances of the vater-
land.
THEIR SOCIAL CHARACTER.
Man. wife and daughter they were to
honor born, and their generosity knew
DO bounds. The Germaa-Americans
making up one OF the several social
bodies of this community at that time,
were men and women of taste, feeling
and congeniality, among whom no jeal.
ousies or back. billings nor scandal reteil.
ers found nourishmont. all of which
resulted in their generss happiness,
enjoyment and recreation.
SOME OF THEM.
Without data or records it il not easy
to recall the names of the families that
made up their social world, at that
period; but we very easily recall those
Of Shoe maker, Dockweiller, Kurtz, Metz
ker, Hensch, Rochner, Benner, Caller,
Dotter, Loeb, Meyer, Knell. Heinzeman,
Jacobs, Cohen, Asbrand, Prayer, Harris,
Wollweber. Wartenbure. Roeder. Kel.
ler, Lecouverer. Lichtenberger. Morris,
Hansen, Strelitz, Phillip, Jaceby.
Kramer, Edelman, Hellman. Hspp,
Stoll, Neitzke. Denker, Kramer, Breeder,
kuhrts, kurtz, Froelinger, Lake, Lauth,
Preuss, Mann. Brosmen, Eberle, Hammel
but why mention them all. while evi-
dences that they we're all worthy pro.
jenitors surround us to-day in myriads
of young and sturdy figures, the boom.
ing product of those days.
THEIR PURPOSES.
The projected Halle was intended to
supply need which has long been felt
by those whose business pursuits re.
guired their attention during the day,
and Others whose lives were more or less
sedentary. These well knew the bene.
its of having healthy physical organ
zation, believing there is no perfect
health without proper exercise, or as
Mr.. George Hsnsen remarked to the
writer fifteen years ago: First the
and then the superstrueture."
GATHERING FUNDS.
On August 80, 1870. committee of
,he Senior Turn-Vereiu Society can.
rassed the city to solicit subscriptions
or building the hall, and, being sue
,essful, they at once bought lot on
Spring street for that purpose, paying
therefor $1,000 TO Col. Larrabee.
About this time the Franco-Prussian
var became highly interesting, and the at
.ention of the hall projectors was occu-
pied III that direction. They then
ousied themselves in contributing and
sending funds to aid the hospitals in
Germany and to comfort the bereaved
widows and orphans in the Vaterlana.
All their souls were in that direction,
aad nothing further was done towards
the hall, except to purchase the ground
md lay its Foundation.
Well, all this is preliminary history.
Then followed the tkree thousand
festive occasions OF sixteen yesrs-the
dance, the song, the speech and the
ball, the opera and the oration. Its in
Berior has been the scene of many grand
many great occasions. II has been the
gathering place of political wisdom and
local strategy. The sound of the voices
Of those we shall hear no naore has rang
through it's length and breadth, and now
Ihou goest to the grave and follows
hem. Goodbye, old Halle! Farewell Il
With thanks for tine great good you have
been the instrument OF accomplishing, |
"Requiescat en- paee." -Absrhieeis ball IN |
Ter alien Taraer.Hatle.
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